Smartwatches used by many parents to keep track of their children could be hacked by paedophiles, security experts warned yesterday.

The inexpensive watches - called MiSafes Kids Watch Plus - keeps track of a child’s location by using GPS.

Parents can keep tabs on their children on a smartphone app which shows them where they are - and which also act as a phone.

But security researchers say that they could put children more at risk as they can easily be hacked to reveal a child’s location to a stranger and to eavesdrop on any conversations they might have.

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Smartwatches used by many parents to keep track of their children could be hacked by paedophiles, security experts warned yesterday. The inexpensive watches - called MiSafes Kids Watch Plus - keeps track of a child’s location by using GPS

Simple techniques security researchers and the BBC claimed found it straightforward to locate the child, their photo, name, gender and date of birth as well as height and weight. It also gave access to parents’ phone numbers assigned to the watch.

Ken Munro and Alan Monie, researchers for security firm Pen Test Partners in Buckingham learned of the product’s existence when a friend bought one for his son earlier this year.

Mr Munro told the BBC that using easily available software, a paedophile could pretend to be the child’s parents using online ‘prank call’ apps.

He said: ‘Once a hacker has the parent’s number, they could spoof a call to appear to come from it and the child would now think it’s their mum or dad dialling’.

‘So they could leave a voice message or speak to the child to convince them to leave their house and go to a convenient location.’

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The watch uses a global positioning system (GPS) sensor and a 2G mobile data connection to let parents see where their child is, via a smartphone app.

The watches sell for around £9 ($12) on online marketplaces such as Amazon.

This software could be used to change the assigned ID number, which was all it took to get access to others’ accounts.

This made it possible to see personal information used to register the product, including: a photo of the child their name, gender and date of birth their height and weight the parents’ phone numbers the phone number assigned to the watch’s Sim card.

Using a different tool, Mr Munro said his team were able to see that about 14,000 MiSafes were still in active use.

Parents can keep tabs on their children on a smartphone app which shows them where they are - and which also act as a phone. But security researchers say that they could put children more at riskas they can easily be hacked to reveal a child’s location to a stranger

The Norwegian Consumer Council highlighted other cases of child-targeted smartwatches with security flaws last year.

It said the MiSafe products appeared to be ‘even more problematic’ than the examples it had flagged.

Gro Mette Moen, the watchdog’s acting director of digital services, told the BBC: ‘This is another example of unsecure products that should never have reached the market.

‘Our advice is to refrain from buying these smartwatches until the sellers can prove that their features and security standards are satisfactory.’

The watchmaker could not be reached for comment.

MiSafes previously made headlines in February when an Australian cyber-security company discovered several flaws with its Mi-Cam baby monitors.

SEC Consult said these meant hackers could spy on footage from owners’ homes and hijack accounts.

HOW CAN A DEVICE TURN YOUR ARM INTO A TOUCHSCREEN?

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon have developed the first smartwatch that can turn the wearer's arm into a usable touchscreen.

The LumiWatch works by projecting an interactive interface onto the arm or the hand.

The functional laser projector and depth sensor array allow for the projection to be swiped and tapped just like any smartphone or smartwatch.

It even has a swipe-to-unlock feature to ensure that its user doesn't do anything accidentally.

The 15-lumen projection laser is bright enough so that the watch can be seen and used outside in the sun.

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon Mellon University have created a smartwatch prototype that can turn its owner's arm or hand into a fully-functioning touchscreen